Rubber duck ... in a squeeker

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The rubber duck squeeked out a win for a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame, joining the ancient game of chess in the 2013 class inducted Thursday.

A rubber duck is on display during the National Toy Hall of Fame ceremony at the National Museum of Play at The Strong in Rochester, N.Y., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. The rubber duck and the ancient game of chess were inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame Thursday, beating out 10 other finalists including bubbles, the board game Clue, and Nerf toys. (AP Photo/Democrat & Chronicle, Carlos Ortiz) MAGS OUT; NO SALES

Online polls had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and My Little Pony running strong, but in the end a national selection committee made up of 23 experts, including toy collectors, designers and psychologists, voted in the winners.

“The two inductees . . . are fantastic examples of the two extremes in the world of play,” said Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections at The Strong Museum, which houses the 15-year-old hall.

“One is so strategic. It’s rule-driven. It’s something that adults play and puzzle over,” Bensch said, “and at the other extreme is a toy that’s pure fun. It has no rules.